Floating restaurant in M'sia drifts away as floods worsen in Kelantan

A floating restaurant in Kota Bharu, Kelantan in Malaysia, has floated away after being hit by strong floodwaters.

A video posted on X, formerly Twitter, shows JL Fara Houseboat restaurant drifting away with the current.

BANJIR KELANTAN

Restoran JL Fara Houseboat telah hanyut dibawa arus semalam, akibat banjir melanda di Kelantan. pic.twitter.com/8XOyqsH6UM

— Malaysia Hari Ini (@MsiaHariIni) November 27, 2024

Swept away by floodwaters

The owner, Fara Sharina, said that the floating restaurant was swept away by floodwaters after a large tree crashed onto the houseboat, reported The Star.

This created pressure on the raft supporting the restaurant, causing it to submerge.

"The fast and strong water, along with a rope that pulled it forward, caused it to move. When three other ropes snapped, it just went," Fara said.

The restaurant owner said her husband attempted to save the restaurant by jumping into the floodwaters despite being advised against it by officers from the Civil Defence Force.

"He went in alone while the water was flowing strongly," she said. "Fortunately, an uncle came by boat to rescue him."

Rescued 500 metres from the sea

The floating restaurant was later rescued 500 metres from the sea.

A video uploaded to TikTok shows the restaurant being towed back by a boat.

@ranggo56 Tabah lah wahai kakak ku @farajl_ atas segala dugaan,,mungkin ada hikmah disebaliknya,,, insyaallah,,,Kami petang tadi dah bt yg terbaek untuk selamatkan House boat JL FARA,, Alhamdulillah kami berjaya #fyp #viralvideo ♬ Astaghfirullah (Cover) - Anisa Rahman

The incident has resulted in an estimated loss of nearly RM1.2 million (S$361,822).

The restaurant is said to be permanently closed on Google.

Worst flood disaster in a decade

Malaysia is facing what could be the country's worst flood disaster in a decade.

Three people have died while more than 90,000 people in Malaysia have been displaced this week as a result of the torrential rain, according to Reuters.

Kelantan and Terengganu are some of the most affected states.

Eight rivers in Kelantan have overflowed due to the rain, and another river has surpassed its warning level, Malaysian media New Straits Times reported.

The number of victims is expected to rise.

Top image via @MsiaHariIni/X and @ranggo56/TikTok